Whitney and Joe Exum fell in love in Carmel on the California coast. They conceived their first child during a Christmas vacation in Bequia, a tiny island near St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
That’s why their daughter is named Carmel Bequia. She was born on Sept. 23 at Plantation General Hospital.
How will Carmel react when she learns about the story?
“She will think her name is special because she symbolizes our love for each other,” Whitney Exum says. “She might even think it’s nice.”
The Exums, of Fort Lauderdale, say they will expose Carmel to other cultures by teaching her foreign languages, such as German, Spanish and French.
Whitney Exum, who worked as sales promotions manager for a German airline, speaks German and plans to start teaching Carmel as early as possible.
The Exums say they plan to spend quality time with Carmel. By the time she turns 2, they say, they will travel with her to Europe. They promise to always be there for her and want her to be their friend.
“She can always depend on us and come to us with any problem or concern, and we’ll always love her no matter what,” her mother says.
The Exums say Carmel is a good-natured, happy baby who likes to be around people.
“We want to teach her to be honest, to have integrity and self-confidence and to explore what she’s interested in,” her mother says. “We want her to be happy in whatever she chooses to do. We’d like her to get a good education – that’s what is important to us.”
Carmel is the grandchild of Lyla and Frank Daggett, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Cathy Exum, of Marion, Ill.; and Jerry Exum, of Miami. Christel Marin, Jerry Exum’s wife, is considered a grandmother.
Carmel has five great-grandparents: Gladys and Gaston Thornton, of Edel, Ga.; Gladys and Lloyd Daggett, of Vancouver, Wash.; and Bessie Culbertson, of Tigard, Ore.
